The Africa Trust
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Africa Trust funds water and sanitation, poverty relief, entrepreneurial training and loans, and research into innovations, and it works through partner organisations in Africa, so a group whose work sits in these areas and in its priority countries of Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Malawi is the natural fit.
- Its annual report gives annual giving of £1,508,025, but no grant range is stated, so ask the contact shown for guidance on size before setting a figure.
- The charity publishes no application process, so the contact shown in its annual report, register entry or website is the route in, and nothing there says how long decisions take or how competitive funding is.
- Because grants go to partner organisations in Africa, a group with no existing partner in Africa is unlikely to meet the funder's stated eligibility.
Overview
The Africa Trust is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1147666).
The Africa Trust exists to promote sustainable development for the benefit of people in Africa through the relief of poverty, sustainable economic growth and regeneration, and environmental protection, with a focus on water supply and sanitation. It gives grants to partner organisations in Africa to fund activities that further its charitable objectives while building each partner's capacity, and it also funds research into innovations, particularly clean water supply and sanitation. Its annual giving is £1,508,025, and at least £1,200,000 is to be allocated primarily to installing and maintaining Elephant Pumps that provide clean water in poor rural communities in Zimbabwe.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The Africa Trust makes grants to partner organisations in Africa for activities that advance its charitable objectives and build each partner's capacity. Its work aims to deliver sustainable solutions to poverty, with a focus on clean, productive water and decent sanitation. It also supports entrepreneurial training and small loans through village savings and loans clubs, helping people in rural communities establish businesses. Alongside these programmes, it funds research into innovations, particularly in clean-water supply and sanitation. Its approach is to work through local implementing partners, develop their capacity and, where possible, plan an exit strategy; it monitors and evaluates country programmes for comparative impact and value for money.
Themes
- Poverty alleviation
- Water and sanitation
- Entrepreneurial training and loans
- Research into innovations
Geographic Focus
Priority: Africa; Tanzania; Uganda; Zimbabwe; Malawi.
How to apply
No application process is published in the charity's annual report, its register entry or its website. The contact shown is for getting in touch.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- It supports partner activities that advance its objectives and build each partner's capacity.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- Africa
- Malawi
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The Africa Trust.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £1,641,159 | £1,660,077 | £1,603,441 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £1,735,492 | £1,869,212 | £1,807,956 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £1,418,835 | £1,407,118 | £1,347,681 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £1,579,432 | £1,447,332 | £1,381,010 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £1,490,819 | £1,576,900 | £1,508,025 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
In 2 of the 5 years shown, grants paid exceeded income.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- theafricatrust.org
- theafricatrust.org/what-we-do · read on 30 October 2026
- theafricatrust.org/contact-us · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to The Africa Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Applying to The Africa Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required